Ghats | mountain ranges, India | Britannica.com mountain ranges, India Palghat Gap Ghats, two mountain ranges forming the eastern and western edges, respectively, of the Deccan plateau of peninsular India . The two ranges run roughly parallel to the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea coasts, respectively, from which they are separated by strips of fairly level coastal land. In Hindi ghat means “river landing stairs” or “mountain pass” and has been extended in its Anglicized plural form (formerly ghauts) to include the mountains themselves. The word refers as well to riverbanks that have been artificially terraced for bathing for religious purposes and also to ferry landings. Anai Peak, Western Ghats range, eastern Kerala, India. Arunguy2002 The Eastern Ghats include several discontinuous and dissimilar hill masses that generally trend northeast-southwest along the Bay of Bengal.

The narrow range has an average elevation of about 2,000 feet (600 metres), with peaks reaching 4,000 feet (1,200 metres) and higher; the high point is Arma Konda (5,512 feet [1,680 metres]) in Andhra Pradesh state. There is a gap in the chain 100 miles (160 km) wide through which the Krishna and Godavari rivers reach the coast; the Godavari runs through a gorge 40 miles (65 km) long. Farther southwest, beyond the Krishna River, the Eastern Ghats appear as a series of low ranges and hills. Southwest of Chennai (Madras), the Eastern Ghats continue as the Javadi and Shevaroy hills, beyond which they merge with the Western Ghats. The mountains’ slopes have sparse forests containing valuable timber. The Western Ghats , which are possibly a fault scarp, are the crest of the western edge of the Deccan plateau. Their steep seaward slopes are deeply dissected by streams and canyonlike valleys, but on the landward side their slopes are gentle and give way to wide, mature valleys.

The range extends northward to the Tapti River and southward almost to Cape Comorin at India’s southern tip. The mountains reach elevations of 3,000 to 5,000 feet (900 to 1,500 metres) in the north, rise less than 3,000 feet in the area south of Goa, and are higher again in the far south, reaching 8,652 feet (2,637 metres) at Doda Betta mountain. The Palghat Gap separates the Western Ghats proper from their southward extension, known as the Southern Ghats. The Western Ghats, because they receive extremely heavy rainfall from the southwest monsoon, comprise peninsular India’s principal watershed; rainfall is much lighter inland on the plateau. The high rainfall has produced dense forests on the seaward slopes, with bamboo, teak, and other valuable trees. Some rivers among the Western Ghats have been dammed to produce electric power. A number of hill resorts are located in the mountains. The Western Ghats in Matheran, Maharashtra, India.

Nicholas The Great Mountain Ranges of India The Great Mountain Ranges of India The Great Mountain Ranges of India Mountain Ranges of India: India has seven major mountain ranges having peaks of over 1000 meters. India has some of the highest mountain ranges in the world. It also has some of the world’s highest mountain roads. The Great Himalayan mountain range are the famous and highest mountain hills of India . The Himalayan mountain range bisects India from the rest of Asia, this mountains is the primary source of mighty rivers in India. These hills contain areas of exceptional natural beauty, sparking waterfalls and habitat for many species of medicinal plants, beautiful birds, unique reptiles and wild animals. Kanchanjenga is the highest peak in India and 3rd in the world, Nanda devi is the second highest mountain peak in India . Click For: Top 10 Highest Himalaya Mountain Peaks in India The Himalaya Range The highest mountain range Himalayas means “abode of snow” is the one of the youngest mountain ranges in the world. By extension Himalaya Range also include the Karakoram, the Hindu Kush, and other lesser ranges. Karakoram is one of the Greater Ranges of Asia.

Himalaya mountain ranges are the highest in the planet and home for the worlds highest peaks that include Mount Everest and K2.The Great Himalaya mountain is a source of some of major rivers in India as well as in the world. The second longest glacier in the world Siachen Glacier is also the part of Great Himalaya range. Great Himalaya also host some of the most amazing valley’s which contains group of most beautiful lakes in India such as Pangong Tso -Ladakh,Tsongmo Lake -Sikkim and and the frozen one Sela Lake of Tawang. Kangchenjunga and K10 Saltoro Kangri I are respective highest mountain peaks of Himalaya Ranges and Karakoram ranges in Indian territories. The Purvanchal Range The Purvanchal Range is the extension of the Great Himalaya range in north-east region of India. It is parallel to Karakoram and ladakh range. Three hill ranges that come under the Purvanchal ranges are, the Patkai, the Garo–Khasi–Jaintia and Lushai Hills. It is the most densely forested area and full of flora and fauna in India. These hill region also known for highest rainfall.

Cherrapunji and Mawsynram are well famous for highest annual rainfall and wettest place on earth . Phawngpui is the highest peak of Purvanchal Range situated in Manipur with an elevation of 2,157 m (7,077 ft). The Vindhya Range The Vindhya range is one of seven chief holy mountain ranges in India. The Vindhya geographically separates the Northern India from the Southern India as it runs across the central India. Vindhya range is a very old mountain range in central India. It extends in east-west direction from Varanasi through Madhya Pradesh to Gujrat. Vindhya range is parallel to Satpura ranges. The southern slopes of the range are drained by the Holy Narmada River also known as Narmada valley . Amarkantak is the tallest peak of Vindhya Range with an elevation of 1,048 m (3,438 ft) in Madhya Pradesh. The Satpura Range The Satpura Range is a mountain range that stretches through the states in the central part of India. It extend across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

Satpura range is triangular in shape with its apex at Ratnapuri other two sides being parallel to the Tapti and Sacred Narmada River . The Narmada and the Tapti are the only major rivers that flow into the Arabian Sea. It runs parallel to the Vindhya range, The Satpura range was formerly heavily forested. These forest provide habitat for some of India’s remaining large mammals, including The Royal Bengal Tiger , gaur, bear and black buck. The highest peak of Satpura mountain range is Dhupgarh with an height of 1,350 m (4,429 ft) in Madhya Pradesh . The Aravalli Range The Aravali range is the oldest mountain range in India, running across Rajasthan to Haryana. The Aravalli range is the eroded stub of a range of ancient folded mountains. Aravalli Range is one of the most popular mountain ranges in India also known as mewat hills. Aravalli range is famous for mineral resources and surrounded by dense forests with rich in flora and fauna .

The highest peak of Aravali Mountain Range is Guru Shikhar with height 1,722 m (5,650 ft) at Mount Abu. The Western Ghats The range starts near the border of Gujarat and ending at Kanyakumari. About sixty percent of the Sahyadri Range are located in the state of Karnataka. This area is one of the world’s ten “Hottest biodiversity hotpots. The Arabian sea area is known as Konkan area, one of the best tourist attraction in India. Green city Pune is the largest city within this mountain range in Maharashtra. The western ghats mountain ranges make up an impressive fortress all along Kerala. There are a number of beautiful hill stations and wildlife sanctuaries in Kerala. AnaiMudi in the Anaimalai Hills in Kerala is the highest peak in the Western Ghats. The Ghats also offer best valley’s scenery-view through out the journey. The Eastern Ghat The Eastern Ghats is an irregular range of mountains, Which include four major rivers The Godavari, Mahanadi, Krishna and Holy Kaveri . Its range start from West Bengal to Tamil Nadu.

The Nilgiri hills “The Blue Mountains” in Tamil Nadu lies at the junction of the Eastern and Western Ghats. This area has the largest population of Indian elephant . This discontinuous mountain ranges run parallel to the Bay of Bengal. The Shevaroy hills is the highest peak in the Easter Ghat. I liked it. So much useful material. I read with great interest. Margaret Calico some truly wonderful work on behalf of the owner of this web site , perfectly great content . Mark You completed various nice points there. I did a search on the issue and found the majority of persons will have the same opinion with your blog. Uggs WONDERFUL Post.thanks for share..extra wait .. … Cialis very good post, i actually love this web site, carry on it neha sharma These are great pics .I am unable to explain the beauty of GOD’s nature. nishant sharma India is one among the top destinations in the world , every year lots of tourists from different places come to visit India.You have shared a very Informative stuff here, thanks a lot for sharing with all! patel Arpan. so nic pics of mountain ranges Obaidur Rahman good work like a geographer…. Soumya Dash super like..

i was searching for it… Nitin it’s good also visit onHill Stations tour Packages abul On Review this blog I examined that your blog is so nice and and which of this content are including in this are most attractive and most forceful l all about of this. Nice Blog and more you get more Mountain Ranges of Asia - Landforms of Asia, Lakes, Rivers and Deserts of Asia - Worldatlas.com LANDFORMS (Mountains) Mountain Ranges of Asia - Landforms of Asia, Lakes, Rivers and Deserts of Asia ASIA MOUNTAINS: Several significant mountain ranges stretch across Asia. Here we highlight on the map and describe the major ones, including the Altay, Gahats, Himalayan, Kunlun, Tien Shan, Ural and Zagros Mountains Altay (or Altai) The Altay Mountains are a mountain range in East-Central Asia, where Russia, China, Mongolia and Kazakhstan come together, and where the rivers Irtysh and Ob have their sources. Belukha Mountain is the highest peak at 4,506 m, (14,784 ft).

Ghats The Western Ghats is a mountain range along the western side of India with an average elevation around 1,200 m, (3,900 ft). The Eastern Ghats is a range of mountains along India's eastern coast. The highest point is Jindhagada Peak at 1,690 m (5,545 ft). Himalayas The Himalayas, a huge mountain range immediately at the north of the Indian subcontinent, is the world's highest mountain range, and home to the world's highest peaks, including Mount Everest at 8,848 m (29,029 ft), and K2 at 8,611 m (28,251 feet) above sea level. The Himalayan system includes over 100 mountains exceeding 7,200 m (23,600 ft). Kunlun The Kunlun Mountains are one of the longest mountain chains in Asia, extending across wester China and the Tibetan Plateau. The highest mountain is the Kunlun Goddess at 7,167 m (23,514 ft).

Tien (or Tian) Shan The Tian Shan is a large mountain system located in Central Asia. It's positioned to the north and west of the Taklamakan Desert near the border region of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and western China. The highest peak is Victory Peak at 7,439 m (24,406 ft). Ural The Urals are 1,640 miles (2,640 km) in length and extend from the northern-edge of the Russian Federation down through Kazakhstan. They form a natural border between Asia and Europe Russia. The highest point in this mountain range is Mt. Narodnaya at 1,895 m (6,217 ft). Zagros The Zagros are the largest mountain range in Iran and Iraq spaning the whole length of the western and southwestern Iranian plateau and ending at the Strait of Hormuz. The highest point is Zard Kuhbakhtiari at 4,548 m, (14,921 ft). Indian Mountains Home > Reference > Geography of India > Indian Mountains Indian Mountains Indian Mountains stand tall and regal and are said to represent some of the highest peaks in the world.

Apart from protecting the country along its northern borders, the Indian mountains are also great tourist attractions for their scenic beauty. Subscribe to Free E-Magazine on Reference More on Indian Mountains (157) • Less... Indian mountains are the integral parts that serve greatly in building the ecosystem. Indian Mountains have long added to the pristine beauty of the country, epitomizing majesty with their tall and regal presence. For centuries, these mountains have protected the nation's borders from invading armies. The most dominant mountain ranges in the country are the Himalayan Mountain Ranges. The Northern side of the Indian Subcontinent is defined by the Himalaya Mountains , the Hindukush and the Patkai Ranges Major Mountain Ranges in India There are a total of eight major mountain ranges in India. All of these have peaks with a height of over 1000 feet. Himalayan Mountain Range It is said to be the world's highest mountain range. The Himalayas run from Arunachal Pradesh in the East to Jammu and Kashmir in the West. The mountains form India's border on the north-eastern side and separate it from north-eastern Asia.

These mountain ranges, said to be the youngest in the world cover an area of almost 5, 00,000 kilometres square. There are a number of peaks here over 7000 metres and the tallest peak of the range, Mt. Everest, lies along the Nepal-China border. Aravalli Mountain Range This is the oldest mountain ranges in India and runs for approximately 800 kms. It runs across Rajasthan in a northeast to southwest direction and the northernmost end of the range runs into Haryana and ends near Delhi . The highest peak of the Aravallis is the Guru Shikhar peak at Mount Abu . It rises to almost 1722 metres near Gujarat. Karakoram Mountain Range The Karakoram Range, lying in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, has over 60 peaks that stand at a height of over 7000 metres. Found here is the K2, the second highest peak in the world. Close to the north-western end of the Karakoram lays the Hindu Raj range and beyond this is the Hindu Kush Range. The Karakorams are bound on the South by the Gilgit, Shyok and Indus River .

Vindhya Mountain Range The Vindhya Mountain Range lies along most of Central India and is believed to have been formed from the wastes created by the weathering of the Aravalli Mountains. It separates Northern India from the Southern part of the country and runs at an average height of 3000 metres. The Western end of the mountain range is located in Gujarat. Satpura Mountain Range The Satpura Mountain Range runs parallel to the Vindhya Range which lies to its North. The Satpuras begin in Eastern Gujarat and run east across Maharashtra , Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh . These ranges run for 900 kms with a number of peaks which rise above 1000 metres. Patkai Hills or Purvanchal Ranges The Purvanchals, which lie along the eastern border that the country shares with Myanmar, was created by the tectonic process similar to the one which created the Himalayas. There are a total of three hill ranges which form part of the Patkai, and these are the Patkai-Bam, the Garo hills - Khasi hills - Jaintia Hills and the Lushai hills.

The Patkai Mountains are characterised by conical peaks, steep slopes and deep valleys and are not as tall as the Himalayas. Western Ghats Mountain Range Also known as the Sahyadri Mountain Range this range runs along the western edge of the Deccan plateau in India. This range runs across Maharashtra , Goa , Karnataka , Kerala and Tamil Nadu to the southern tip of the Deccan peninsula. The average height of the mountains is around 1000 feet and the highest peak of the range is the Anaimalai Hills in Kerala standing at a height of 2,695 metres. Eastern Ghat Mountain Range India India Official name : Republic of India Area: 3,287,590 square kilometers (1,269,345 square miles) Highest point on mainland: Kanchenjunga (8,595 meters/28,208 feet) Lowest point on land: Sea level Hemispheres: Northern and Eastern = noon GMT in West; 6:30 P.M. = noon GMT in East.

Longest distances: 3,214 kilometers (1,997 miles) from north to south; 2,933 kilometers (1,822 miles) from east to west Land boundaries: 14,103 kilometers (8,744 miles) total boundary length; Bangladesh 4,053 kilometers (2,513 miles); Bhutan 605 kilometers (375 miles); China 3,380 kilometers (2,096 miles); Myanmar 1,463 kilometers (907 miles); Nepal 1,690 kilometers (1,048 miles); Pakistan 2,912 kilometers (1,805 miles) Coastline: 7,000 kilometers (4,340 miles) Territorial sea limits: 22 kilometers (12 nautical miles) 1 LOCATION AND SIZE India is located in the southern part of Asia and borders the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean, and the Bay of Bengal. It occupies most of the South Asian continent and is one of the largest countries on Earth and one of the most heavily populated.

India consists of twenty-eight states and seven union territories. 2 TERRITORIES AND DEPENDENCIES Part of the southern border with Bangladesh is undefined, as is part of the border with China in the northeast (the McMahon Line). Since their creation as independent countries in 1947, India and Pakistan have disputed ownership of the northern regions of Jammu and Kashmir, a simmering conflict that has broken into fighting between the neighbors in 1948, 1965, and 1971, and continues to be a source of sporadic conflict. China also occupies portions of northeastern Jammu and Kashmir that are claimed by India, which caused fighting in 1962. A line of control divides Jammu and Kashmir, excluding the eastern sector along the Siachen Glacier. 3 CLIMATE India experiences a variety of different climate conditions due to its great size and varying terrain. The Greater Himalayan region has a dry, subarctic climate, but the valleys and outer ranges are temperate or subtropical. The inland of the peninsula ranges from subtropical to temperate. The coasts of the peninsula are humid and tropical. India's four seasons are determined by the monsoons, a pattern of winds sweeping across southern Asia.

There is a dry, cool season (winter) from December through March; a hot season (spring) in April and May; the rainy season (summer) from June through September; and a less-rainy season (autumn) in October and November. India's north has frost in the cool season and temperatures as high as 49°C (120°F) in the hot season. As an example of South India's climate, the city of Chennai has an average temperature of 28°C (83°F). Temperatures for the entire nation reach an average high of 38° to 40°C (100° to 104°F) and dip to an average low of 10°C (50°F). India's weather is characterized by intense, sudden changes, such as the onset of the monsoon, flash floods, or violent thunderstorms. Cyclones from the Indian Ocean often affect the coastal areas in April through June and September through December.

Rainfall varies extremely in India, from the Thar Desert which receives less than 13 centimeters (five inches) yearly, to Cherrapunji in the northeastern mountains, known as the world's rainiest place, with an average of 1,270 centimeters (500 inches) per year. Rainfall for the entire nation of India averages 105 centimeters (41 inches). Snow falls in the Himalayan area, which also produces hailstorms that sweep down over the peninsula. Dust storms affect many regions of India. 4 TOPOGRAPHIC REGIONS One of the largest countries on Earth, as well as one of the most heavily populated, India is a nation of great geographic diversity. The extraordinary geographic variety of India can be divided into three main regions: the Himalayan mountain range of the north; the broad and flat alluvial plain of the Ganges River to the south of the mountains; and, even further south, the vast peninsula that juts into the Indian Ocean, creating the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, with small island chains offshore. India's mountainous northeastern region is nearly separated from the rest of the country by Bangladesh and Nepal.

India's wonderfully diverse geographical features, encompassing everything from snowy peaks to desert to rainforest, are at risk from environmental damage, mostly due to population pressure. Many local groups have organized to fight pollution and protect wildlife. Local political parties changed the names of several well-known Indian locations during the 1990s. Most noteworthy of these changes are the cities of Mumbai (formerly Bombay), Chennai (formerly Madras) and Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), and the state of Bangla (formerly West Bengal). 5 OCEANS AND SEAS Seacoast and Undersea Features India's peninsula juts into the Indian Ocean, with the Arabian Sea on the east and the Bay of Bengal on the west. The country is situated on vital maritime trade routes between the Middle East, Africa, and East Asia. Sea Inlets and Straits The Eight Degree Channel separates the Lakshadweep islands from the small island nation of the Republic of Maldives. Inlets of the Indian Ocean surrounding India include the Arabian Sea to the west, the Laccadive Sea between the Indian peninsula and the Maldives to the southwest, and the Bay of Bengal in the east.

In the northwest, the Gulf of Kachchh and the Gulf of Khambhat are inlets of the Arabian Sea. In the southeast, the Palk Strait separates India from Sri Lanka. Islands and Archipelagos Two groups of islands belonging to India lie on each side of the southern tip of the country. The areas and populations of these island chains are very small. The eastern group, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, formed from an undersea mountain range, are located in the Bay of Bengal. The total land area of these lightly populated islands is roughly 8,287 square kilometers (3,200 square miles). In the Arabian Sea are the Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindivi Islands. They are collectively named Lakshadweep. The total area of these small coral islands is only about 50 square kilometers (18.5 square miles). Most, although not all, of these low-lying small islands are occupied, and population density is high on the inhabited islands. Coastal Features Not far south of where the India-Pakistan border meets the ocean, the broad and short Kathiwar Peninsula projects into the Arabian Sea.

To the north of this peninsula lies the Gulf of Kachchh, and the Gulf of Khambhat extends to the south and east. The Gulf of Kachchh includes a Marine National Park, which is an effort to protect coral reefs and wetland wildlife habitat. South of the Gulf of Kachchh, the coast continues, with few inlets and a flat sandy shore, to its southernmost point, Cape Comorin. The southern section of this coastline is known as the Malabar Coast. The eastern coast of India, on the Bay of Bengal, begins in the northeast at the fragmented Ganges River delta and continues generally southwest before curving to the south, at which point it becomes known as the Coromandel Coast. The Gulf of Mannar indents India's southern tip, where Cape Comorin joins the two coasts of the immense Indian peninsula. 6 INLAND LAKES India's landscape contains a variety of lakes—salt water and fresh water as well as natural and artificial. Chilka Lake is the largest lake in India, with an area of 1,100 square kilometers (425 square miles).

Wular Lake, in India-controlled Jammu and Kashmir, is India's largest freshwater lake (202 square kilometers/78 square miles). It contains large quantities of floating vegetation, and it is also an important source of fish and of irrigation water. 7 RIVERS AND WATERFALLS The Indus River, rising in the Tibetan Himalayas of China, flows through Indian-controlled Jammu and Kashmir before entering Pakistan. The Indus has five principal tributaries, also of Himalayan origin, that are of importance to India: the Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, Chenab, and Jhelum. These rivers drain part of the Indian state of Punjab, whose name is derived from panch ab, meaning five waters or rivers. South of Punjab and east of the desert region of western India is the most revered and mightiest of India's rivers, the Ganges. The origin of the Ganges is identified in an ice cave about 48 kilometers (30 miles) north of Nanda Devi, almost on the border with China. The river is about 2,510 kilometers (1,560 miles) in length.

The Yamuna, the major tributary of the Ganges, also rises in the Himalayas. The Ganges has shifted its course many times over the years, and as it approaches the border with Bangladesh it branches into many streams and rivers to the south. They are the beginnings of the enormous Ganges Delta, most of which is found within Bangladesh. After entering Bangladesh, the Ganges merges with the Brahmaputra River before emptying into the Bay of Bengal. Most of the course of the Brahmaputra is in China, but it enters India in its northeastern corner. The river then curves west and flows through northeast India in the Assam Valley along a narrow plain, before entering Bangladesh, where it merges with the Ganges. South of the Gangetic Plain there are six major rivers. Four of these rivers—the Mahanadi, the Godavari, the Krishna, and the Kâeri—flow into the Bay of Bengal. Several of the rivers have waterfalls and cascades in their upper courses. The Mahanadi River, which rises in Madhya Pradesh, is about 900 kilometers (560 miles) long and is an important source of irrigation water in Orissa state.

Only two major rivers of the peninsula flow into the Arabian Sea: the Narmada and the Tāpi. The Narmada rises in eastern Madhya Pradesh, flows through Gujarat State, then forms a thirteen-mile-wide estuary at the Gulf of Khambhat. The shorter Tāpi River follows a companion course south of the Narmada. 8 DESERTS Below the state of Punjab and extending southwest along the Pakistani border is the sparsely populated Thar Desert. This desert covers most of the state of Rajasthan, and 3,000 square kilometers (1,158 square miles) of its terrain of sand dunes and flat thorn scrub is protected as the Thar Desert National Park. 9 FLAT AND ROLLING TERRAIN The Gangetic (or Indo-Gangetic) Plain lies at the foot of the Himalayan mountain barrier, extending from Assam and the Bay of Bengal on the east into Pakistan and to the Arabian Sea on the west. Covering some 776,996 square kilometers (300,000 square miles), it extends roughly 2,414 kilometers (1,500 miles) from east to west.

The entire region is very fertile and very densely populated. Other grasslands in India include the Terai region in the low mountains along the border of Nepal, which includes savannah and alpine grassland types. Bamboo grasslands occur across the Himalayan foothills, especially in northeast India. India's forest cover is estimated at approximately 19 percent of the country. Madhya Pradesh in the center of the country and Arunachal Pradesh in the extreme northeast are the states with the most forest cover. There is a great range of forest types, including alpine scrub in the Himalayan regions; temperate evergreen in Jammu and Kashmir and other hill areas; tropical rainforest in the Western Ghats, northeastern states, and islands; and man-groves in the Sundarbans on the Bay of Bengal and in Gujarat. 10 MOUNTAINS AND VOLCANOES The name Himalaya, which means "abode of snow" in Sanskrit, is given to the tremendous system of mountain ranges, the loftiest in the world, that extends along the northern frontiers of Pakistan, India, Nepal, and Bhutan. The Himalayas are made up of three parallel ranges. The northernmost and highest are the Greater Himalayas.

The world's tallest mountains are found in this range, with most peaks over 6,096 meters (20,000 feet). India's highest mountain is in this range, the five-peaked Kanchenjunga (8,595 meters/28,208 feet) on the border between Nepal and India. Other great peaks include Kamet (7,756 meters/ 25,447 feet) and Nanda Devi (7,817 meters/ 25,645 feet), which lie north of New Delhi and west of Nepal. South of the Greater Himalayas is the Lesser Himalayas range. Their peaks are mostly between 1,524 and 3,657 meters (5,000 and 12,000 feet) in height; although some exceed 4,572 meters (15,000 feet). The Outer Himalayas are the southernmost and lowest of the three ranges, with peaks between 914 and 1,219 meters (3,000 and 4,000 feet) in height.

There are many other mountain ranges in India, although none nearly so large and high as the Himalayas. At the southern end of the country are the two mountain ranges called the Ghats. The Western and Eastern Ghats run parallel to the coasts and separate the interior plateau from the coastal plains. The mountains called the Western Ghats have an average elevation of 1,066 meters (3,500 feet). The Eastern Ghats are disconnected and much lower than the Western Ghats, averaging only about 610 meters (2,000 feet) in elevation. The easternmost part of India, nearly separated from the rest of the country by Bangladesh, is very mountainous. The chief ranges here are the Barail Range and the Arakan Yoma Range along the border with Myanmar, whose highest peak is Saramati (3,866 meters/12,683 feet). These ranges are sometimes considered a southern extension of the Himalayas. 11 CANYONS AND CAVES The Himalayan regions of Ladakh, Zanskar, and Sikkim possess many deep canyons, as do the hill regions, such as Madhya Pradesh at India's center.

The Brahmaputra River cuts a deep gorge through the mountains of northeast India, as does the Ganges at its source in the Himalayas DID YOU KNOW? The Silk Road is an ancient seven thousand-mile-long trading route that extended from east-central China through the present-day countries of India, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, and Syria. It essentially connected the region of the Yellow River Valley in China to the Mediterranean Sea. From there, costly Chinese silk could be transported throughout the Roman Empire. The Silk Road served not only as a transportation route for trade but also as a route of cultural exchange, as travelers and traders from different regions shared religious, political, and social beliefs and customs. 12 PLATEAUS AND MONOLITHS The largest of India's plateaus are the central Malwa Plateau between the Aravali and Vindhya Ranges, the Chota Nagpur in the northeast of the peninsula, and the Deccan Plateau. The name Deccan, which means "south," is often applied loosely to all the elevated land of southern India. More properly, however, it refers to the western portions of the irregular central plateau.

The Deccan is actually not a single plateau but a series of plateaus topped by rolling hills and intersected by many rivers. The Deccan plateau system averages about 762 meters (2,500 feet) in elevation in the west and about 305 meters (1,000 feet) in the eastern parts. 13 MAN-MADE FEATURES India has a number of artificial lakes. In Tamil Nadu state, an extensive system of shallow irrigation reservoirs known as "tanks" has been maintained since the eighth century A.D. Nagarjuna Lake, on which the extensive Nagarjuna Dam is located, is the third-largest man-made lake in the world. 14 FURTHER READING Eastern Ghats Mountain Range in India Home > Reference > Geography of India > Indian Mountains > Indian Mountain Ranges > Eastern Ghats Mountain Range in India Eastern Ghats Mountain Range in India Eastern Ghats mountain ranges are a chain of broken low ranges along Bay of Bengal. Average elevation of Eastern Ghats mountain ranges is lower than the western ghat mountain ranges.

Subscribe to Free E-Magazine on Reference More on Eastern Ghats Mountain Range in India (1) • Eastern Ghats mountain ranges are a series of discontinuous low ranges along the Bay of Bengal coast running from the Mahanadi River valley for about 500 metres up to the Nilgiri Hills in the south and forms the eastern edge of the divided Deccan plateau .The Eastern Ghats start from the state of West Bengal in the north and culminates in Tamil Nadu in the south. On the way Eastern Ghats mountain ranges cover several states including Orissa and Andhra Pradesh . They are swept by the four major rivers of southern India, the Godavari River, Mahanadi River, Krishna River , and Kaveri River . These major rivers cut the Eastern Ghats into various discontinuous hills. They are separated from the Bay of Bengal by the coastal plains. The elevation of the Eastern Ghats is comparatively lower than the Western Ghats mountain ranges . They have an average height of 450 metres and rarely exceed 1200 metres. The low Sirumalai and Karanthamalai hills are at the southernmost part of the Eastern Ghats mountain ranges Tamil Nadu.

Further, to the north of the Kaveri River are comparatively higher hills like Kollimalai, Pachaimalai, Shevaroy (Servaroyan), Kalrayan Hills, Chitteri, Palamalai, and Mettur hills in the north of Tamil Nadu. The higher hill ranges experience a generally cooler and wetter type of climate than the surrounding plains. These hills harbour several coffee plantations and dry forests. The popular hill station of Yercaud is also situated in the Shevaroy Hills . In the Biligiri Hills , which run east from the Western Ghats to the Kaveri River, there is a wooded ecological strip that connects the Eastern and Western Ghats. This region has the second-largest wild elephant population in India. Two significant rivers - Ponnaiyar River and Palar River traverse through the gaps in the Eastern Ghats and they ultimately drain into the Bay of Bengal .These two rivers are separated by the Javadhu Hills. Some isolated areas have waterfalls. The Kiliyur Falls is one of them. In the north of Palar River in the state of Andhra Pradesh , the middle section of the Eastern Ghats comprises two parallel ranges running around north-south.

The higher Palikonda-Lankamalla-Nallamalla ranges are in the west and the lower Velikonda Range is in the east. The Velikonda range eventually descends to the coastal plains in the northern Nellore district . The Krishna River and the Godavari River in India are separated by a range of low hills. To the north of the Godavari River, the Eastern Ghats record an unexpected increase in height, acting as the boundary between the two states Andhra Pradesh and Orissa. Moreover, the region has fertile soil. Comparatively, the Eastern Ghats mountain ranges are elder than the Western Ghats mountain ranges. The history associated with the origin of this range is complicated and takes off from the congregation and disintegration of the ancient super continent of Rodinia and the assembly of the Gondwana super continent. (Last Updated on : 08/08/2013) India - Geography Geography India Table of Contents India's total land mass is 2,973,190 square kilometers and is divided into three main geological regions: the Indo-Gangetic Plain, the Himalayas, and the Peninsula region.

The Indo-Gangetic Plain and those portions of the Himalayas within India are collectively known as North India. South India consists of the peninsular region, often termed simply the Peninsula. On the basis of its physiography, India is divided into ten regions: the Indo-Gangetic Plain, the northern mountains of the Himalayas, the Central Highlands, the Deccan or Peninsular Plateau, the East Coast (Coromandel Coast in the south), the West Coast (Konkan, Kankara, and Malabar coasts), the Great Indian Desert (a geographic feature known as the Thar Desert in Pakistan) and the Rann of Kutch, the valley of the Brahmaputra in Assam, the northeastern hill ranges surrounding the Assam Valley, and the islands of the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. Indo-Gangetic Plain In social and economic terms, the Indo-Gangetic Plain is the most important region of India. The plain is a great alluvial crescent stretching from the Indus River system in Pakistan to the Punjab Plain (in both Pakistan and India) and the Haryana Plain to the delta of the Ganga (or Ganges) in Bangladesh (where it is called the Padma).

Topographically the plain is homogeneous, with only floodplain bluffs and other related features of river erosion and changes in river channels forming important natural features. Two narrow terrain belts, collectively known as the Terai, constitute the northern boundary of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. Where the foothills of the Himalayas encounter the plain, small hills known locally as ghar (meaning house in Hindi) have been formed by coarse sands and pebbles deposited by mountain streams. Groundwater from these areas flows on the surface where the plains begin and converts large areas along the rivers into swamps. The southern boundary of the plain begins along the edge of the Great Indian Desert in the state of Rajasthan and continues east along the base of the hills of the Central Highlands to the Bay of Bengal. The hills, varying in elevation from 300 to 1,200 meters, lie on a general east-west axis. The Central Highlands are divided into northern and southern parts. The northern part is centered on the Aravalli Range of eastern Rajasthan. In the northern part of the state of Madhya Pradesh, the Malwa Plateau comprises the southern part of the Central Highlands and merges with the Vindhya Range to the south.

The main rivers that flow through the southern part of the plain--the Narmada, the Tapti, and the Mahanadi--delineate North India from South India. Some geographers subdivide the Indo-Gangetic Plain into three parts: the Indus Valley (mostly in Pakistan), the Punjab (divided between India and Pakistan) and Haryana plains, and the middle and lower Ganga. These regional distinctions are based primarily on the availability of water. By another definition, the Indo-Gangetic Plain is divided into two drainage basins by the Delhi Ridge; the western part consists of the Punjab Plain and the Haryana Plain, and the eastern part consists of the Ganga-Brahmaputra drainage systems. This divide is only 300 meters above sea level, contributing to the perception that the Indo-Gangetic Plain appears to be continuous between the two drainage basins. The Punjab Plain is centered in the land between five rivers: the Jhelum, the Chenab, the Ravi, the Beas, and the Sutlej.

(The name Punjab comes from the Sanskrit pancha ab , meaning five waters or rivers.) Both the Punjab and Haryana plains are irrigated with water from the Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej rivers. The irrigation projects emanating from these rivers have led to a decrease in the flow of water reaching the lower drainage areas in the state of Punjab in India and the Indus Valley in Pakistan. The benefits that increased irrigation has brought to farmers in the state of Haryana are controversial in light of the effects that irrigation has had on agricultural life in the Punjab areas of both India and Pakistan. The middle Ganga extends from the Yamuna River in the west to the state of West Bengal in the east. The lower Ganga and the Assam Valley are more lush and verdant than the middle Ganga. The lower Ganga is centered in West Bengal from which it flows into Bangladesh and, after joining the Jamuna (as the lower reaches of the Brahmaputra are known in Bangladesh), forms the delta of the Ganga.

The Brahmaputra (meaning son of Brahma) rises in Tibet (China's Xizang Autonomous Region) as the Yarlung Zangbo River, flows through Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, and then crosses into Bangladesh. Average annual rainfall increases moving west to east from approximately 600 millimeters in the Punjab Plain to 1,500 millimeters around the lower Ganga and Brahmaputra. The Himalayas The Himalayas, the highest mountain range in the world, extend along the northern frontiers of Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Burma. They were formed geologically as a result of the collision of the Indian subcontinent with Asia. This process of plate tectonics is ongoing, and the gradual northward drift of the Indian subcontinent still causes earthquakes (see Earthquakes, this ch.). Lesser ranges jut southward from the main body of the Himalayas at both the eastern and western ends.

The Himalayan system, about 2,400 kilometers in length and varying in width from 240 to 330 kilometers, is made up of three parallel ranges--the Greater Himalayas, the Lesser Himalayas, and the Outer Himalayas--sometimes collectively called the Great Himalayan Range. The Greater Himalayas, or northern range, average approximately 6,000 meters in height and contain the three highest mountains on earth: Mount Everest (8,796 meters) on the China-Nepal border; K2 (8,611 meters, also known as Mount Godwin-Austen, and in China as Qogir Feng) in an area claimed by India, Pakistan, and China; and Kanchenjunga (8,598 meters) on the India-Nepal border. Many major mountains are located entirely within India, such as Nanda Devi (7,817 meters) in the state of Uttar Pradesh. The snow line averages 4,500 to 6,000 meters on the southern side of the Greater Himalayas and 5,500 to 6,000 on the northern side.

Because of climatic conditions, the snow line in the eastern Himalayas averages 4,300 meters, while in the western Himalayas it averages 5,800 meters. The Lesser Himalayas, located in northwestern India in the states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, in north-central India in the state of Sikkim, and in northeastern India in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, range from 1,500 to 5,000 meters in height. Located in the Lesser Himalayas are the hill stations of Shimla (Simla) and Darjiling (Darjeeling). During the colonial period, these and other hill stations were used by the British as summer retreats to escape the intense heat of the plains. It is in this transitional vegetation zone that the contrasts between the bare southern slopes and the forested northern slopes become most noticeable. The Outer or Southern Himalayas, averaging 900 to 1,200 meters in elevation, lie between the Lesser Himalayas and the Indo-Gangetic Plain. In Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, this southernmost range is often referred to as the Siwalik Hills.

It is possible to identify a fourth, and northernmost range, known as the Trans-Himalaya. This range is located entirely on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, north of the great west-to-east trending valley of the Yarlung Zangbo River. Although the Trans-Himalaya Range is divided from the Great Himalayan Range for most of its length, it merges with the Great Himalayan Range in the western section--the Karakoram Range--where India, Pakistan, and China meet. The southern slopes of each of the Himalayan ranges are too steep to accumulate snow or support much tree life; the northern slopes generally are forested below the snow line. Between the ranges are extensive high plateaus, deep gorges, and fertile valleys, such as the vales of Kashmir and Kulu. The Himalayas serve a very important purpose. They provide a physical screen within which the monsoon system operates and are the source of the great river systems that water the alluvial plains below (see Climate, this ch.). As a result of erosion, the rivers coming from the mountains carry vast quantities of silt that enrich the plains.

The area of northeastern India adjacent to Burma and Bangladesh consists of numerous hill tracts, averaging between 1,000 and 2,000 meters in elevation, that are not associated with the eastern part of the Himalayas in Arunachal Pradesh. The Naga Hills, rising to heights of more than 3,000 meters, form the watershed between India and Burma. The Mizo Hills are the southern part of the northeastern ranges in India. The Garo, Khasi, and Jaintia hills are centered in the state of Meghalaya and, isolated from the northeastern ranges, divide the Assam Valley from Bangladesh to the south and west. The Peninsula The Peninsula proper is an old, geologically stable region with an average elevation between 300 and 1,800 meters. The Vindhya Range constitutes the main dividing line between the geological regions of the Indo-Gangetic Plain and the Peninsula. This range lies north of the Narmada River, and when viewed from there, it is possible to discern the prominent escarpments that rise between 800 and 1,400 meters.

The Vindhya Range defines the north-central and northwestern boundary of the Peninsula, and the Chota Nagpur Plateau of southern Bihar forms the northeastern boundary. The uplifting of the plateau of the central Peninsula and its eastward tilt formed the Western Ghats, a line of hills running from the Tapti River south to the tip of the Peninsula. The Eastern Ghats mark the eastern end of the plateau; they begin in the hills of the Mahanadi River basin and converge with the Western Ghats at the Peninsula's southern tip. The interior of the Peninsula, south of the Narmada River, often termed the Deccan Plateau or simply the Deccan (from the Sanskrit daksina , meaning south), is a series of plateaus topped by rolling hills and intersected by many rivers. The plateau averages roughly 300 to 750 meters in elevation. Its major rivers--the Godavari, the Krishna, and the Kaveri--rise in the Western Ghats and flow eastward into the Bay of Bengal. The coastal plain borders the plateau.

On the northwestern side, it is characterized by tidal marshes, drowned valleys, and estuaries; and in the south by lagoons, marshes, and beach ridges. Coastal plains on the eastern side are wider than those in the west; they are focused on large river deltas that serve as the centers of human settlement. Offshore Islands India's offshore islands, constituting roughly one-quarter of 1 percent of the nation's territory, lie in two groups located off the east and west coasts. The northernmost point of the union territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands lies 1,100 kilometers southeast of Calcutta. Situated in the Bay of Bengal in a chain stretching some 800 kilometers, the Andaman Islands comprise 204 islands and islets, and their topography is characterized by hills and narrow valleys. Although their location is tropical, the climate of the islands is tempered by sea breezes; rainfall is irregular. The Nicobar Islands, which are south of the Andaman Islands, comprise nineteen islands, some with flat, coral-covered surfaces and others with hills. The islands have a nearly equatorial climate, heavy rainfall, and high temperatures.

The union territory of Lakshadweep (the name means 100,000 islands) in the Arabian Sea, comprises--from north to south--the Amindivi, Laccadive, Cannanore, and Minicoy islands. The islands, only ten of which are inhabited, are spread throughout an area of approximately 77,000 square kilometers. The islands are low-lying coral-based formations capable of limited cultivation.

Question: Which range of mountains run down the western side of Southern India?
Answer: WESTERN GHATS